Israel has launched its most extensive bombardment of Gaza since January, resulting in the deaths of at least 326 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The airstrikes, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, targeted various locations across the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. Many civilians were hit during their pre-dawn meal as they observed Ramadan.
Medical sources reported that among those killed were 154 people in northern Gaza, including Mahmoud Abu Wafah, Gaza’s deputy interior minister. The attacks follow the collapse of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with both sides blaming each other for the failure to extend the truce. Hamas accused Israel of acting in bad faith and deliberately undermining the mediation efforts.
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The humanitarian situation in Gaza has further deteriorated under Israel’s 16-day blockade, which has prevented essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel from entering the region. Gaza’s civil defense agency confirmed that Tuesday’s strikes alone claimed 121 lives, adding to the devastation as hospitals and infrastructure struggle to cope.
The initial ceasefire, brokered in January by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, ended after Israel refused to advance to the second phase of talks. With no resolution in sight, both sides continue to brace for further violence.
